بَابُ مَا يُقَالُ عِنْدَ مَنْ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُWhat Should Be Said at the Time of Death

Allah the Almighty says: "If you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], 'Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.'" (Qur'an 6:93)

And His saying: "The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], 'Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.'" (Qur'an 40:46)

And His saying: "Thus does Allah reward the righteous. Those whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say, 'Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do.'" (Qur'an 16:31-32)

Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Prompt your dying ones to say: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ (There is no god but Allah)." ¹ [Narrated by Muslim]

In Radd al-Muhtar, it is elaborated that the majority hold the view that the dead can hear, and it is mentioned in Sharh al-Munyah that the majority interpret the hadith metaphorically. However, it is not prohibited to prompt after burial because there is no harm in it; rather, it is beneficial, as the deceased finds comfort in the remembrance, as mentioned in various narrations. It is also mentioned that eight categories of people are not questioned: the martyr, the one guarding the frontier, the one who dies of plague, the one who dies during a plague while being patient and hopeful, the truthful believer, children, the one who dies on Friday or its night, and the one who regularly recites Surah Al-Mulk. Some also include those who recite Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Ikhlas during their illness. The commentator also added that the Prophets (peace be upon them) are included, as they are more deserving than the truthful believers.

Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever's last words are لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ will enter Paradise." [Narrated by Abu Dawud]

Abdullah ibn Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Prompt your dying ones to say: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ, الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالِمِينَ " They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the living?" He said: "Even more so, even more so." [Narrated by Ibn Majah]

Ma'qil ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Recite Surah Ya-Sin over your dying ones." [Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah]

Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir reported: I visited Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was dying, and I said: "Convey my greetings ¹ to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." [Narrated by Ibn Majah]

Abdur Rahman ibn Ka'b reported from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) that when Ka'b was nearing death, Umm Bishr bint al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur came to him and said, "O Abu Abdur Rahman, if you meet so-and-so, convey my greetings to him." He replied, "May Allah forgive you, O Umm Bishr. We are too preoccupied for that." She said, "O Abu Abdur Rahman, have you not heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, 'The souls of the believers are in green birds hanging from the trees of Paradise'?" He said, "Yes." She said, "That is it." [Narrated by Ibn Majah and Al-Bayhaqi in Kitab al-Ba'th wa an-Nushur]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) kissed ¹ Uthman ibn Maz'un (may Allah be pleased with him) after his death and wept until the tears of the Prophet (ﷺ) flowed onto Uthman's face. [Narrated by Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) kissed the Prophet (ﷺ) after his death. [Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When you are present with the sick or the deceased, say good things, for the angels say 'Ameen' to what you say." [Narrated by Muslim]

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) when his eyes were wide open in death. The Prophet (ﷺ) closed them and said, "When the soul is taken, the sight follows it." Some of his family members cried out, so he said, "Do not supplicate for yourselves except with good, for the angels say 'Ameen' to what you say." Then he said, "O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah, raise his rank among the guided, and grant him a successor in his descendants who remain. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Make his grave spacious and illuminate it for him." [Narrated by Muslim]

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "No Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and says what Allah has commanded him to say, 'Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return. O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better', except that Allah will replace it for him with something better." When Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) died, she said"Which Muslim is better than Abu Salamah, the first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?" Then she said the supplication, and Allah replaced him for her with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). [Narrated by Muslim]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away, he was covered with a striped cloak. [Agreed upon]

Husayn ibn Wahwah reported that Talhah ibn al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) fell ill, and the Prophet (ﷺ) visited him. He said, "I do not see Talhah except that death has approached him. Inform me when he passes away and hasten, for it is not appropriate for the body of a Muslim to be kept waiting among his family." [Narrated by Abu Dawud]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The deceased is attended by angels. If the person was righteous, they say, 'O pure soul that was in a pure body, come out praised and receive the glad tidings of refreshment and fragrance, and a Lord who is not angry.' This is repeated to the soul until it leaves the body. Then it is taken up to the heavens, and the gates are opened for it. It is asked, 'Who is this?' They reply, 'So-and-so.' It is said, 'Welcome to the pure soul that was in a pure body. Enter praised and receive the glad tidings of refreshment and fragrance, and a Lord who is not angry.' This is repeated until the soul reaches the heaven where Allah is. If the person was evil, they say, 'O foul soul that was in a foul body, come out despised and receive the tidings of boiling water and pus, and other torments of the same kind.' This is repeated until the soul leaves the body. Then it is taken up to the heavens, but the gates are not opened for it. It is asked, 'Who is this?' They reply, 'So-and-so.' It is said, 'No welcome to the foul soul that was in a foul body. Return despised, for the gates of heaven are not opened for you.' Then it is sent back from the heavens and returns to the grave." [Narrated by Ibn Majah]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When the soul of a believer is taken, it is met by two angels who ascend with it." Hammad mentioned its fragrant scent and compared it to musk. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The inhabitants of heaven say, 'A pure soul has come from the earth. May Allah bless you and the body you inhabited.' Then it is taken to its Lord, who says, 'Take it to the end of its term.' When the soul of a disbeliever is taken, Hammad mentioned its foul odor and curse. The inhabitants of heaven say, 'A foul soul has come from the earth.' It is said, 'Take it to the end of its term.'" Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then wiped a cloth over his nose like this." [Narrated by Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When a believer is near death, the angels of mercy come with a white silk cloth and say, 'Come out content and pleasing to Allah, to His mercy and fragrance, and a Lord who is not angry.' The soul comes out like the most pleasant scent of musk, and the angels pass it to one another until they bring it to the gates of heaven. They say, 'What a pleasant scent has come from the earth!' They bring it to the souls of the believers, who rejoice more for it than one of you rejoices for the return of a loved one. They ask, 'What has so-and-so done? What has so-and-so done?' They say, 'Leave him, for he was in the distress of the world.' They say, 'He has died. Has he not come to you?' They reply, 'He has been taken to his mother, the abyss.' When a disbeliever is near death, the angels of punishment come with sackcloth and say, 'Come out displeased and displeasing to Allah, to His punishment.' The soul comes out like the foulest stench of a corpse until they bring it to the gates of the earth. They say, 'What a foul stench has come from the earth!' Then they bring it to the souls of the disbelievers." [Narrated by Ahmad and Nasa'i]

Al-Bara' ibn Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: We went out with the Prophet (ﷺ) for the funeral of a man from the Ansar. When we reached the grave, it had not yet been dug. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat down, and we sat around him as if birds were perched on our heads. In his hand was a stick with which he was tapping the ground. He raised his head and said, "Seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave," two or three times. Then he said, "When a believing servant is about to depart from this world and enter the Hereafter, angels with white faces descend from the heavens. Their faces are as bright as the sun, and they bring with them a shroud from Paradise and embalming perfume from Paradise. They sit as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at the head of the dying person and says, 'O pure soul, come out to forgiveness and pleasure from Allah.' The soul then flows out like a drop of water flowing from a waterskin. The Angel of Death takes it, and they do not leave it in his hand for even a moment before placing it in the shroud and perfume. A fragrance like the finest musk on earth emanates from it. They ascend with it, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask, 'Who is this pure soul?' They reply, 'So-and-so, the son of so-and-so,' using the best names he was called in the world. They continue until they reach the lowest heaven and request it to be opened for them, and it is opened. The angels of each heaven accompany it to the next until it reaches the seventh heaven. Allah, the Exalted, says, 'Record the book of My servant in Illiyyin and return him to the earth, for I created them from it, and to it I will return them, and from it I will bring them forth again.' The soul is then returned to the body, and two angels come to him, sit him up, and ask, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies, 'Allah is my Lord.' They ask, 'What is your religion?' He replies, 'My religion is Islam.' They ask, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He replies, 'He is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' They ask, 'What is your knowledge?' He replies, 'I read the Book of Allah, believed in it, and affirmed it.' A caller from heaven announces, 'My servant has spoken the truth. Spread for him from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.' He is then enveloped by its breeze and fragrance, and his grave is expanded as far as the eye can see. A man with a handsome face, beautiful clothes, and a pleasant fragrance comes to him and says, 'Receive the glad tidings that please you. This is your day that you were promised.' He asks, 'Who are you? Your face brings good news.' The man replies, 'I am your good deeds.' He then says, 'O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and wealth.'

When a disbelieving servant is about to depart from this world and enter the Hereafter, angels with dark faces descend from the heavens, wearing coarse garments. They sit as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits at the head of the dying person and says, 'O foul soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allah.' The soul is then dispersed throughout the body and is extracted like a skewer is pulled from wet wool. The Angel of Death takes it, and they do not leave it in his hand for even a moment before placing it in the coarse garments. A stench like the foulest corpse on earth emanates from it. They ascend with it, and whenever they pass by a group of angels, they ask, 'Who is this foul soul?' They reply, 'So-and-so, the son of so-and-so,' using the worst names he was called in the world. They continue until they reach the lowest heaven and request it to be opened for them, but it is not opened. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then recited, 'The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle' (Qur'an 7:40). Allah, the Exalted, says, 'Record his book in Sijjin in the lowest earth.' His soul is then cast down, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited, 'And whoever associates others with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or blown away by the wind to a far-off place' (Qur'an 22:31). The soul is then returned to the body, and two angels come to him, sit him up, and ask, 'Who is your Lord?' He replies, 'Hah, hah, I do not know.' They ask, 'What is your religion?' He replies, 'Hah, hah, I do not know.' They ask, 'Who is this man who was sent among you?' He replies, 'Hah, hah, I do not know.' A caller from heaven announces, 'He has lied. Spread for him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.' He is then enveloped by its heat and scorching winds, and his grave is constricted until his ribs are crushed together. A man with an ugly face, filthy clothes, and a foul stench comes to him and says, 'Receive the tidings that displease you. This is your day that you were promised.' He asks, 'Who are you? Your face brings bad news.' The man replies, 'I am your evil deeds.' He then says, 'O Lord, do not hasten the Hour.'"

In another narration, it is added: "When the soul of a believer is taken, every angel between the heavens and the earth and every angel in the heavens prays for him, and the gates of heaven are opened for him. There is no gatekeeper who does not pray to Allah that his soul be taken through their gate. When the soul of a disbeliever is taken, it is extracted along with his veins, and every angel between the heavens and the earth and every angel in the heavens curses him. The gates of heaven are closed, and there is no gatekeeper who does not pray to Allah that his soul not be taken through their gate." [Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud in his Sunan, Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf, Al-Bayhaqi in Kitab 'Adhab al-Qabr, At-Tayalisi and 'Abd ¹ in their Mustadraks, Hannad ibn As-Sari in Az-Zuhd, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim, and others through authentic chains. Mi'rak said, "The hadith of Ahmad is a good hadith."

Abdur Rahman ibn Ka'b reported from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The soul of a believer is like a bird hanging from the trees of Paradise until Allah returns it to his body on the Day of Resurrection." [Narrated by Malik, Nasa'i, and Al-Bayhaqi in Kitab al-Ba'th wa an-Nushur]